Friday More D&D

I rose early on Friday, not sure when, and started on the blog. I skipped the coffee and only had a sip of water, as I had a blood draw. Today, the words and memories came quickly, and the blog found form fast, and I was done before 9! I showered and all of that. I was meeting with Doctor B, my oncologist, today around 11 in Portland, near Good Samaritan Hospital, at their Knight Cancer Institute (here for more information).

My drive was easy, and, as usual for me, I was early for my medical appointment, was soon measured (weight in shoes and dressed was 234; unchanged), and was in a little exam room. The Doctor arrived, and most of the time we talked about retirement plans and how the Doctor plans to retire in about 10 years. We did talk about the tumor in my neck, a Warthin’s tumor, and he will expand my next CT Scan to include my neck. If it remains stable, then he would agree that surgery is unnecessary. He was happy to point out that my next CT Scan will be at five years post-surgery with no recurrence, and that means we can stop. Yay!

With that done, I headed out. The staff will call me when it is time for the CT Scan (after the paperwork required to file an appeal with the insurance company) and the next review. I am always a bit mindful that I collapsed in the parking garage after an infusion and took an ambulance ride across the street to the ER. I am happy to drive out in my EV and not head to the ER. Parking is free (if you get validation at the appointment).

I parked only a mile or less away on the streets using the ParkingKitty App for about $5 for two hours. I headed, remembering to bring my Cosmic Tripper Passport to McMenamins Tavern & Pool. This is the Nob Hill area in NW Portland. High-end shops and restaurants are often built into older homes or older business fronts. They stamped it but were surprised to see a 2006 model (most are finished within a few years; I never focused on it). You fill it with stamps (each location has at least one stamp), earn rewards, and, when done, become a member of the Cosmic Trippers for McMenamins, receive special offers, and be invited to Cosmic Tripper parties. I have never focused on this.

It was fun to get stamped, have a Reuben Kincaid sandwich (pastrami instead of corned beef), and a 1983 beer. While I sat there, with a woodburning stove not far from me, making it comfy, tourists arrived, about seventy (I asked the bartender), and there was a catered lunch for them. Most were underdressed for the usual Portland gray and rainy May we were having. They huddled around the stove until someone rousted them to their catered lunch in the other room. I smiled; I forgot about tourists. A few escaped back to the warm room and ordered food and iced teas (I think); pizza and beer were not their thing (odd if you are a tourist in Portland).

I talked to Deborah for a while and was delighted with my medical news. It was not yet raining heavily, and I walked the streets after ringing off and paying the bill. I had not been back to this area in years. It was less rundown than I remember and definitely showing signs of a keep-it-weird vibe. The area is now high-end. I got a cone of plant-based ice cream-like mint chocolate chip on a homemade cone. The mint and chocolate were bright, and the cone had a cookie-like flavor. I walked with this and found a crystal-filled, incense-heavy bookstore that focused on esoteric, and I heard a staff member explain to another customer all the different tarot decks, and also a new thing: building new, non-traditional cards into your tarot to expand your experience.

I got some cards to send to Mom Wild. I was offered a bag, passed, and stepped outside, and saw why. It was now raining (not just the Oregon Mist), but I put my book under my coat (now zipped) and walked on more, in the rain, with my Columbia jacket (waterproof) and my hat. I enjoyed looking in the shop windows, but the wind picked up, and I soon found the car with about twenty minutes left on ParkingKitty (it meows on your phone when it runs out).

The ride out of Portland was the usual highways and not memorable. I was soon home, then got back into Air VW the Gray (having talked to Deborah on the trip), and soon returned to the gaming store and then to the veggie place on the corner of 185th and TV Highway. At the gaming store, I looked for some game items, but settled on $5 of Pepto-Bismol-pink dice for D&D (I hate to leave without supporting my local gaming store); I try to buy the ugliest, while easy-to-read dice.

I got two bags of veggies for less than $20 at the corner and took all those home. I put on Nova while I put the stuff away, did the dishes, and started dinner, a Cornish hen (though Deborah thought I should get a Devon one next time to be more fair to the other areas of the UK). The hen took an hour to reach the target temperature, and when done, it was hard to eat (for me), and I thought its taste was not to my liking. More seasoning next time (if ever). I made a salad with the new greens and microwaved some fresh broccoli. Those were the highlights of my meal!

Next, I reboarded the VW and headed to 167E and Rune & Board. I had registered in advance, and there was a spot for me. All seven would be taken tonight. I took a different chair, and some of the players had changed. We now had two sorcerers (A young gal and her dad, playing a paladin, were playing today). They were known to the other players. For this game, many folks wanted the spotlight, so I kept in the background, but the DM and I shared lots of small talk, mostly unheard by the players, and that was fun. I continued to forge documents with my character, open locks, and remove traps others had discovered (“I am too good-looking to investigate,” my character said). Carter the Great, my character, did get jumped by one creature and took some nasty hits, but my character shocked it and escaped. Overall, I stayed in the background, and the game seemed to be over before it started, though it was more than two hours of play. Lincoln, the DM, was friendly and helpful. I will be back for another play next Friday. That game has a waiting list.

I saw the owner of Rune & Board, and we talked previously about me offering ShadowDark in the future, maybe other games, and RPGs, but I first wanted to play there a few times and get familiar with the staff and players. He was happy to see me, shook my hand, and then I apologized for having to get back to the game. I will try to return next week (I am not as busy) for some solo games and to chat more.

I returned home before nine and paid for a month of Prime, then watched the final episode of Good Omens (season 3 is one 90-minute episode). For me, teaching The Book of Revelation this month, it was fun to see Aziraphale’s low-smiting version of The Second Coming. It was lovely, fun, irrelevant, and I was laughing and cheering the whole show. Without spoilers, it was fun to see who got to do what in the ending. I may have to watch it again. I considered this homework for my class, and it was good to laugh so hard.

After that, I read more ACW as the action continues to heat up and Hood’s constantly evolving plans confuse everyone (including Hood). This is The Last Hurrah of the Confederacy, and recommended if you like your history in extreme detail.

It is Friday, and I washed the sheets and towels and at least started the rest of the laundry. I remade the bed. Clean sheets are sooooo niiiicccce!

I soon slept and did not wake until just before sunrise. I rolled over.

Thanks for reading!